Cardiac Calcium Scoring

Heart disease is the leading cause of death of Americans, for both men and women.

A cardiac calcium score can help you know your future risk of coronary disease, and possibly risk of heart attack. Knowing your cardiac calcium score could save your life.

A cardiac calcium score is a fast, painless and non-invasive CT scan. It is used to obtain information about the presence, location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries and, therefore, a person’s risk of heart attack.

At Sanford Health in Bismarck and Dickinson, ND, the Aquilion ONE, the region’s most advanced CT scanner, is used to perform the cardiac calcium score. It provides incredibly detailed four-dimensional images of the heart and other organs.

Once your scan is completed, the results of the scan will be read by a radiologist and reported to your doctor.

What does my cardiac calcium score mean?
A negative cardiac CT scan indicates a very low risk of heart attack in the next two to five years.

A positive test means coronary artery disease is present. The amount of calcification is then expressed as a score and indicates the likelihood of a heart attack:

Calcium score Presence of CAD

0 No evidence of CAD

1-10 Minimal evidence of CAD

11-100 Mild evidence of CAD

101-400 Moderate evidence of CAD

Over 400 Extensive evidence of CAD

What if coronary artery disease (CAD) is found?
With today’s advances in medicine, there are non-surgical options that can often be used to treat coronary disease. This includes something as simple as a change in your diet or using various medications to treat the disease.

Know Your Risk of having coronary artery disease
Some people have a greater likelihood of having CAD based on these risk factors: Family history of heart disease

Family history of heart disease

Smoking

Obesity

High cholesterol

Sedentary lifestyle

Diabetes

High blood pressure

Additionally, men are generally at greater risk of CAD, but the risk increases for women after menopause.

Schedule a Calcium Score Test
Most insurance companies do not cover the cost of a calcium score. However, if you participate in a health savings account or flexible spending account, you may be able to obtain reimbursement for the cost of your screening.

The cost is $100, which is due at the time of your screening. Even though this is an out-of-pocket expense, it is still considered a very cost-effective, self-pay procedure for identifying a person’s heart attack risk.

For more information about a calcium score or to make an appointment, please call one of the numbers below. Sanford Radiology
Sanford Clinic—basement
222 N. Seventh St.
Bismarck, ND 58501